Signal for switches.



No. 817,860. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. B. G. MATZ & M. WOZNIEWSKI.

SIGNAL FOR SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1905.

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UNTTED STATES SIGNAL FOR SWETCHES...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17. 1906.

Application filed July 17,1906. Serial No. 270,108.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BERNARD G. MATZ and MICHAEL WOZNIEWSKI, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signaling mechanisms, and embodies a mechanism of this class designed particularly for use on railroads and directly connected with a switch for indicating the position of such switch in the practical use thereof.

As is well known, many of the frequentlyoccurring railway accidents are due to the wrong position of a switch when the same is opened or closed wrongly and always when there is a split switch or the switch-points are half-way between the opened and closed positions. With the use of the mechanism comprising this invention the position of the switch will be so clearly shown to the engineer of an approaching train that all likelihood of accident, as above described, will be obviated, with obvious resultant advantages.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and. also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the invention, the arrangement of the circuits operating the signals being omitted.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a rod connected at one end with a lever 2, the opposite end of said rod being directly connected with the switchof the track and, as shown, with the switch-point 3. The lever 2 is pivoted at a point between its ends, as shown at 4, and the end of said lever opposite that connected with the rod 1 is operably connected for actuation of the signaling mechanism by being bifurcated or forked, as shown at 5. The bifurcated or forked portion 5 of the lever 2 receives the lower extremity of a standard 6, which passes through a vertical opening in a sliding bar 7, said standard 6 being provided at its upper end with a laterallyextending arm 8. The sliding bar 7 is movable longitudinally in spaced supporting members 9, which project upwardly from a plate 10 orsimilar support. The supporting members 9 are provided with approximately square openings, through which the bar 7 passes, said bar being of many-sided form in cross-section, so as not to turn in its move ment. The standard 6 is secured to the bar 7 between the ends of the latter and between the member 9, preferably, a laterally-arranged set-screw 11 being used to attach the standard 6 to said bar 7. The arm 8 has its outer end connected by a rod 12 with a vertical lever 13, pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 14, to an inclined support 15. Spaced areshaped guides 16 project from the inclined support 15, and electrical contacts 17 and 18 are arranged at opposite ends of the guides 16, aforesaid, and contacts 19 at an interme diate point in the length of said guides.

The preferred signaling means used for indicating the position of the switch is elec trically operated, and for this purpose the lever 13, which is guided in its movement between the guides 16, is provided with extensions 20, forming contacts suitably insulated from each other and arranged to cooperate with the three sets of contacts 17, 18, and 19, above mentioned. Each set of contacts is connected with circuit-wires 21, and a fourth circuit 22 leads off to the batteries and connects with the extensions 20 on the lever 13. Each set of circuit-wires 21 is connected to operate a signal, and in the construction illustrated the circuit-wires 21, connected with the contacts 17, operate a green light 23. The circuit-wires 21, connected with the contacts 18, operate a white light 24, while the circuit-wires connected with the contacts 19 will operate a red light 25. It is obvious that the signals 23, 24, and 25 may be substituted by semaphores or like means of approved construction. As the switch moves in,being set to a predetermined position, the rod 1 will also be actuated, imparting pivotal movement to the lever 2. The lever 2 being connected operably with the bar 7 will cause said bar to move longitudinally, carrying the standard 6 and armS in a similar direction. The lever 13 will thus be actuated according to the direction of movement of the switch, and when the switch is closed the contacts 18 will be in contact with the contacts 20 and the circuit 22 will be closed, so that the light 24 will be displayed and indicate the position of ICC the switch. An opposite movement of the switch forcing the lever 13 to the opposite end of the guide members 16 will cause the contacts to cooperate with the contacts 17, close the circuit including the green light 23, and this light will be displayed, showing that the switch is open. An intermediate position of the lever 13 caused by a similar position of the switch points or point and forming what is termed a split switch will cause the contacts 20 to be arranged in contact with the contacts 19 and the red light will be displayed, indicating danger, and an approaching train will thus be signaled to stop, and thereby avoid likelihood of a wreck.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is'- 1. In combination with the switch-point 3, the lever 2 pivoted between its ends, the rod 1 connected at one end of the lever 2 with the switch-point 3, the spaced supporting members 9 provided with horizontal openings, the horizontally-slidable bar 7 mounted in the openings of the supporting members 9, the standard 6 passing vertically through the bar 7 and having its lower end connected with the end of the lever 2 opposite that connected with the switch-point 3, said end of the lever 2 being bifurcated as shown at 5 to receive the standard 6 therebetween, the lever 13 connected with the standard 6, and signals operably connected with the lever 13 as set forth.

2. In combination with the switch-point 3, the lever 2 pivoted between its ends, the rod 1 connected at one end of the lever 2 with the switch-point 3, the spaced supporting members 9 provided with horizontal openings, the horizontally-slidable bar 7 mounted in the opening of the supporting members 9, the standard 6 passing vertically through the bar 7 and having its lower end connected with the end of the lever 2 opposite that connected with the switch-point 3, said end of the lever 2 being bifurcated as shown at 5 to receive the standard 6 therebetween, the lever 13 connected with the standard 6, the guides 16 arranged in spaced relation and formed on an arc struck from the pivot of the lever 13 as a center, said guides 16 being arranged upon opposite sides of the lever 13 and provided with a plurality of sets of electrical contacts, sets of circuit-wires connected with the sets of contacts of the guides, the contacts 20 carried by the lever 13 and insulated from each other, the battery-circuit 22 connected with the contacts 20, and the signals in the length of the sets of circuit-wires aforesaid, whereby movement of the lever 13 actuated by the switch-point will cause coperation of the contacts 20 with a set of contacts on the guide 16 closing the battery-circuit 22 and operating the signal connected with said set of contacts.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD e. MATZ. [L s] MICHAEL WOZNIEWSKI. [1). s] Witnesses:

LENARD P. KocIAKAwsKI, THoMAs KROLIK. 

